Venetian blind tilting mechanism



J. C. BENNETT VENETIAN BLIND TILTING MECHANISM June 10,1952

Filed Aug. 21, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l m5 7 J 6 C a s June 10, 1952 J. c.BENNETT 2,599,884

VENETIAN BLIND TILT ING MECHANISM 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 21, 195017 aw 17f 117 5 INVENTOR.

'CIZJMES C BEN/V577;

my a. Law

HrroeA/Ey.

Patented June 10, 1952 VENETIAN BLIND TILTING MECHANISM ames 0. Bennett,Inglewood, Calif., assignor to Anderson Die Casting & EngineeringCorporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication August 21, 1950, Serial No. 180,597

. Claims. l I This invention relates to. mechanisms for tilting theslats of Venetian blinds responsive to downward pulling of lengths of atilt cord suspended from' a pulley forming apart of such a mechanism,and wherein the cord is frictionally contacted with the pulley and intime will slip so that the depending lengths become objectionablyunequal and make it diflicult to adjust the slats as desired. It isknown that tilting mechanisms have been used wherein a clutch meansoperable responsive to a definite manipulation of thecord other thanrequired for tilting the slats, makes it possible to adjust the cordwithout tiltingthe slats.

In my pending application, Serial No. 6830, filed February 7, 1948, nowU. S. Patent 2,559,928 of July 10, 1951, there is shown a tiltingmechanism wherein a clutch-means responds to an arcuate swingingmovement of the tilt cord in either direction in a plane substantiallyparallel to the blind so that the depending lengths of the cord may beequalized without tilting the blind.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved tiltingmechanism of this character.

It is another object of this invention to provide a'Venetian blindtilting mechanism which constitutes an improvement in this art inrespect of simplicity of construction, convenience of assembly, low costof production, and reliability of operation. I

It is another object of this invention to provide Venetian blind tiltingmechanism in which operating elements thereof are constructed andarranged to facilitate an easy preassembly thereof as a completeworkable unit, thereafter readily applicable as such in one operation inassembling the device, thereby making it unnecessary to separatelyinstall the elements within the housing therefor in the operation offorming the device. I

It is another object of this invention to provide in a tilting devicesuch as described a unit construction of the operating elements thereofwhich embodies two units, one being a tilting means for effecting adrive connection with the tilt rail of the Venetian blind; and the otherunit being pre-assembled and comprising a combined clutch means andoperating means for the tilting means, subject to convenientplacementand removal in the operation of assembling and disassembling the device,thereby making it unout, and assuring a more reliable performance ofprevents the spring from interfering with the I proper operation of thedevice and does away with the necessity of individually assembling theoperating elements in the housing against the action -of the springmeans which as heretofore practiced in this art is a diiiicultoperation.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objectswhich may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of oneembodiment of the invention. For this purpose there is shown one form inthe drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.This form will now be described in detail, illustrating the generalprinciples of the invention; but it is to be understood that thisdetailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense; since thescope of the invention is best necessary to individually place andassemble the defined by the-appended claims.

Figure l is a front elevational view of tilting mechanism embodying thepresent invention as applied to a Venetian blind, only part of whichlatter is shown;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4. is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,showing the mechanism in position for tilting the blind;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4; I

Figure6 is a sectional view corresponding to Figure 4, showing themechanism in position for adjusting the tilt cord without tilting theblind;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-1 of Figure fi; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Figure .6.

As shown in Figure 1, a tilting mechanism-1 embodying the presentinvention is mounted on -a header member 2 so asto support one end ofing mechanismto tilt rail 3 and turn in unison,

the slats?! supported from the tiltz rail by means of the usual lattertapes 6. The means'for lifting and lowering the blind is omitted inFigure sleeve 20 is mounted on the clutch sleeve, or if desired, theclutch sleeve with worm sleeve previously mounted thereon may be mountedas a unit on the shaft. After the clutch sleeve and 1, as this meansforms no part of the present invention, there :being shown, zhowever oneof the lift cords 1, which is associated with the header member 2, tiltrail3,'*ar-1d s'lats -5, in the manner well known in this art.

The tilting mechanism I includes a'pair of" mating housing sections 9best shown in Figure 3, and which are held assembled bymeans 'of. studsID on one of the sections extendedthrough corresponding openings in theother section'and then riveted over, as shown at H'in Figure 5. Flangesl 2- on the "housing sections are secure'd worm sleeve are mounted inplace, the combined cam sleeve and cord guidemember 2 I which con-',estitdt'es a. means for releasing the driye connection between' the'shaft {and the Worm "sleeve, is mounted on the shaft [1, then the'pulley22 is 'fixed on the outer end of the shaft which lattei' is-upsetorpivoted as at 26, thus completing the assembly of the unit.

V'The elutch'elements 23 are formed integral with'the eiteriorof theclutch sleeve and the to the header member 2 by means of screws $3,

in use-provides a 1 drive connection "between th'e zworm Wheel and "thetilt rail, -the twosocket portions making' the device subject to rightor left 'ha'nd installation. the worm wheel and "socket portions areintegral 1 and "form a til-ting unit, it is apparent that this unit maybe quickly and easily assenibled:withthe housing sections 9. Inaccordance with 'this invention, the other relemen-ts :of -tilting:device which .iprovide a releasaiblehrive connection :with the wormwheel --Mtand 'azmeans for releasing said connectionifor adjustment-.'0f the til-t' eord 4, rare monstructed i-and arranged ee that theyrmay he assembled am'rith the' housing sections 1 as :readily :andeasily :asf is possible zwith the worm wheel I M and its' a s- -sociatediin-tegral :socket vportions il d'a. and Mb.

E'Moreover, these elements :are subject Ito :ready pre-assembly to:forma complete workable .unit, which .when-placed hetweentthehousing'secti'ons iheforeptheilatterfare ioined itogethentwillmeporsitioned in proper: operativezrelationzto the worm wheel andsaidsections and so mamtainediwhen vsaid :sectl'ons are 'I-jo-ined,rthus making unnecessary the individual installationof such elementsfin-itheihousing :"sections; reducing manufacturing costs and assuringreliable operation f :the imechanismmverilongsperiods of use.

' This 1 preassemble'd 1 operating unit comprises 1 a rotary shaft I I,a coiled spring l8;a iclutclrm'emiberain the form Jo'f a sleeve i F9, Ladriving member in the form of a worm sleeve 20,;a "combinedrcamisleeverand cord guidermember zl, Jan-d a :pulley "322, therefzbeing :"coaperating :clutch eleiments 13 and 24 ion-the clutch sleeveand worm isleeveirespectively, thus :completing the unit.

In assemblin the unit, the spring i'8 is'first imountedionftheshaft withone end abutting a flange lla formed on one end of the shaft. iNext tthenlntchzrsleeve .[9 is mounted on the shaf-t so lthatzasflaneei tea at.one :end :thereof abuts the "othefiendtof'rtheispringl l 8, fatterwhich the-worm flange i9a andare' urged against the clutch elements 24on theworm sleeve 20 :by means of the spring' lfifitheselements 24 beingformed in a recessHZOa in the end of the worm sleeve. In orderthat theclutch sleeve may be driven by the shaft I1 and moved axially thereofinto and out of driving connection :with the awormssieeve, theshaitz isprovided with :aportion i Flzb mfimoncircular :"cross section, :which isrslidablyacontacted wi-thea flattenedlportiom lab zatione-"endm'f borezthr'ongh thesclutchsleeve, asashownzinii'igure 4.

Th worm xsleeve .22 0 :freely zrotatably :ssup- :ported 'on the clutchsleeve, :the '"zcombined team sleeve and cord guide member .ZIiiszfreelyzro- :itatable :onith-e .clutchrsleemf l 1 rhuttthetpulley 23:is :fixed to ithe *shaft :for rotation rtherewith 22s :the portiontitle .of =th'e latter "which :extemis tthrough a anon-circular:openingxin the pulley,1is ofcorrespondinginonetcircularricrossrsection. .iEhe Jpulleyisprefierablyimaiieofitwo :sectionsiin a :manner well known'linithe .art,?for 'eonveniencetdf -manufacture, and has the :tilt cord 4 :extended:therea'rouncl .in frictional :contanct utherewith ssowhat-corresponding ilerxg-ths iii the :eord will ide- :p'end itherefrcmi:fur. manipulation tto :rotate ttlre .pulley.

L'Ihe "cord guide "means of the combined "cam sleeve and cord guidemember 2] compriseszan :arm .52? :which :depends from ithe camsleeverand is 'f'ormedzwithi guide :channels :2 BmhlliZBdshrongh whichthe depending lengths lot :the :cord M :are 7 guided, #and which :retainithe lengthsth'eremsso tthat-rresponsiveto movementofi said;lengths'other -than= downwardly the arcord ?guide :means *IWfll the"correspondinglyzmoved and turn the 'camtsleeve for declutching theclutch sleeve lapaswill fhe hereinafter :m'ore fully-described. ."A-:l-iere pro-- vided, the'ic'ordzis=swungfarcuatelyinsasplane'substantially :parallel to the -bli'nd to ielfeot l the'lease 'of the drive connection :hetween the shai t and? the'means'foritiltingthe blind,

' The two housing sections ,:as :is customary tin this art, providesuitable zbearin rand :retention surfaces ifor :the zvzariou's partsmaintained itherebetween. Thus,.thesectionshavercomplementary recessesfor reception of the flange fl'o' 'on "thesh'aft I Eli-these recessesproviding bearing-surfaces for the flange and retaining the shaftagainst axial withdrawal "from the housing. Similar bearing re'cesses 3I are provided for -reception of the flange ffia omthe *cllitch sleevel9, while portions -32, 33 and 34 '-maintain 'the Worm: sleevelio inproper working position in the assembly. -='Areuate recesses "35 form 'acylindrioal socket in which the cam sleeve! I is =slideti'1le axially ofthe shaft and from which the "shaft and said sleeve extend exteriorly ofthe hous'ing, as=shown in'Figure' i.

11 116 two housing sections are iprovided with ntegral =pins'or -likeprojections 36' in the recesses 35 and which extend into like elongatedpockets orrecesses 31 on opposite sides of the cam sleeve 21, forcontact with oppositely inclined cam' surfaces 38 and 39 at the innerends of said pockets.

These cam surfaces are arranged to cause the cam'sleeve to move axiallyof the shaft as said surfaces ride on the projections 36 responsive torotation of the cam sleeve in either direction. The projections 36 arenormally disposed on the juncture points of the oppositely inclined camsurfaces and ,so maintained as the cam sleeve and clutch-sleeve arenormally held by spring 18 in outermost position, as shown in Figure 4.However, when the cam sleeve is moved to position disengagingthe clutchelements 23 .and 24, the pins or projections 36 will be disposed on oneor the other of the short circumferentially extended surfaces 38a and39a of the cam surfaces, thereby preventing the axial force of thespring 18 from urging the cam sleeve to turn out of position maintainingthe sleeve 19 in declutching position.

With the parts in the position shown in Figure 4,,the mechanism issubject to normal operation for tilting the slats of the blind. Thus,upon appropriate downward pulling of the depending lengths of cord 4,the pulley 23 and shaft l1 fixed thereto will be rotated, therebyrotating the clutch sleeve l9, which at this time is clutched with theworm sleeve 20, so that the latter will also rotate and turn the wormwheel M, to tilt the slats asv desired.

When it is desired to declutch the clutch sleeve l9 so that the shaft I!may be turned freely for adjusting the tilt cord 4, relative to thepulley, the depending lengths of the cord are grasped and movedarcuately in a plane substantially parallel to the blind ineitherdirection. This causes the cord guide portions 21, 28 and 29 to bemoved correspondingly thereby turning the cam sleeve 2| relative to theshaft l7, so that the cam surfaces 38 or 39, depending on the directionof turning of the cam sleeve, will ride on the projections 36 and movethe cam sleeve 2| and clutch sleeve l9 axially of the shaft I7, to'theright as viewed from Figure 4, into position shown in Figure 6, therebywithdrawing the clutch elements 23 from the clutch element 24, so thatrotation of the shaft will not turn the worm sleeve and worm wheel. Thecord 4 may now be adjusted relative to the pulley 22, without tiltingthe tilt rail, to equalize the depending lengths of the cord. As the camsleeve 2| is restrained against movement at this time by the pins orprojections 36 contacting one or the other of the portions 38a and 39aof the cam surfaces 38 and 39, the swinging of the cord 4 arcuately inthe reverse direction will move the cam sleeve so that the projections36 will encounter the inclined cam surfaces, whereupon the spring I8 I,will aid this movement of returning the cam sleeve to the normalposition shown in Figure 4, in which the sleeve l9 effects a driveconnection with the worm sleeve 20 and restores the tilting mechanism tooperative condition for tilting the blind. It should be noted that inhaving the shaft l1 and pulley 22 remain stationary while the cam sleeve2| and clutch sleeve [9 are moved axially of and relative to the shaftfor declutching the clutch sleeve from the worm sleeve 20, undue wear ofthe bearing surfaces of the housing is avoided, as well as possibledamage or derangement of the housing, as might take place in shiftingthe shaft and pulley relative thereto.

In having the spring l8 mounted on the shaft as here shown, the assemblyof the worm 20,

clutch sleeve l9, and associated elements against the action of thespring, and separately, as heretofore practiced in the art, is done awaywith. Furthermore, with the present arrangement, the ends of the springdo not-have to be treated or formed as' a distinct pre-assemblyoperation, to prevent such ends from biting into non-rotary portions,for example, the housing, and thereby interfering with the properoperation of the mechanism. These advantages, in addition to the unitconstruction making possible a convenient preassembly of the shaft andelements mounted thereon, as a workable unit, render the device hereofas a whole, a decided improvement over those heretofore produced.

'1'. In a Venetian blind tilting mechanism, a shaft, a pulley fixed tothe shaft, tilting means adapted to be operated by rotation of saidshaft, means forming a releasable drive connection between the pulley'and said tilting means including a rotary member for driving saidtilting means, a clutch member splined. on said shaft and supportingsaid rotary member in driving relation therewith, and means for movingsaid.

clutch member axially of the shaft out ofdriving relation with saidrotary member.

2. In a Venetian blind tilting mechanism, a shaft, a pulley fixed to theshaft, tilting means adapted to be operated by rotation of said shaft,

means forming a releasable drive connection between the pulley and saidtilting means including a clutch member splined on the shaft, and adriving member rotatable on said clutch member for operating saidtilting means, means on said clutch member for engaging and rotatingsaiddriving member, and means for moving said clutch member axially of theshaft for releasing said driving connection. l

3. In a Venetian blind tilting mechanism,:.a shaft, a pulley fixedto theshaft, tilting means adapted to be operatedby rotation of said shaft,means forming a releasable drive connection between the pulley and saidtilting means including a clutch member mounted on the shaft in drivingconnection therewith and for axial move- 'ment relative thereto, and adriving member for operating said tilting means, surrounding said clutchmember; means on said clutch member for engaging and driving the drivingmember,

spring means mounted on said shaft for urging said clutch member intoposition effecting a driving connection with" the driving member, andmeans for moving said clutch member into position for releasing saiddriving connection.

4. In a Venetian blind tilting mechanism, a housing, a shaft journalledin thehousing, a

clutch sleeve mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith and axialmovement relative thereto, a worm journalled on said clutch sleeve forrotation therewith in one position of the clutch sleeve, a worm wheel inthe housing meshing with said worm and adapted for connection with ablind, cooperative clutch elements on said sleeve and Worm adapted to bedisengaged upon axial movement of said sleeve, a spring mounted on saidshaft with one end against said sleeve, means on the shaft abutting theother end of the spring and maintaining the spring compressed, and cammeans in the housing operable upon rotation thereof to move said sleeveaxially of the shaft to disengage said clutch elements.

5. In a tilting mechanism for a Venetian blind,

a housing, a shaft journalled in said housing, a

worm wheel rotatable in the housing and adapted for connection with ablind, a clutch sleeve circling saidshaft with itsends'contacting-saidabutment andan end of said sleeve for'urging said sleeve tin-to position.130 engage said clutch elements, (and :meansZ-for moving saidsleeveaxially .of :the shaft -.to-.disengage'said :olutch elements. I a

6. In tilting mechanism. for 'a Venetian blind, a shaft, means mountingsaid shaft for-rotation, tilting meanson said mounting means including 7aworm wheel and'means for-effecting adriving connection with the tiltrail of-the blind, aclutch sle'evemounted-on said-shaft for rotationtherewith and for axial movement-relative thereto; a worm mounted-zensaid sleeve for rotation relative thereto and rotation therewith,cooperating clutchrelementsron the: sleeve and worm adapted to be.disengaged onaxialmovement'of the sleeve relative to. the shaft, .meansurging said :sleeve into position toengage.saidclutch elements, and

' *means for movingrsaid sleeve relativeto-the shaft fordiseng'agingssaid clutch elements.

'7. itn-a veneti'aniblind tilting-mechanism having amountingimeansanmatiltingmeans thereon a'daptedtotbe rotated-andto beconnecte'd-with thetilt rail of the blind; :an operating :unit for said tiltingmeanscomprising a:rotary' shaft, a pulley fixed :to one .end io'f ;.the:shaft, a clutch sleeve m'ountedon said shafttforirotation .therewithand for axial movement relative thereto, a rotary driving :membermounted on :said sleeve for free rotation thereon vand adapted to have"driving contact.withsaidtilting means; cooperat- 'ing clutch :elements1011 said :sleeve and :driving member adapted :to :be :disengaged :uponmovemerit :of 'said sleeve axially of; said shaft, a cam means mountedon the 'shaft. for rotation relative thereto for moving :said sleevetodisengage *sai'd-clutch elements, and a .spring -urging the sleeve intoposition wto engage .said clutch-ele- 'ments. r

PB. operating unit for-the tilting means of -awenetian blind, comprisingatrotary shaft having abutment means thereon, a :pulley fixed to*safdshaft; =a= dutchsleevemounted :on': said shaft for axial movementrelative thereto between the pulleyandthe abutment .means, means forminga drive connection between :said -..clutch sleeve an'd.=sai'd shaft, arotary'drivingimember; mounted -"on sai'dclutch. sleeve to-rotatetherewith and relative thereto, and'adapted for driving contact withsaid tilting means, cooperating clutchelements onthe clutch sleeve anddriving member adapted to be disengaged upon-movement of saidsleeve'axially of said shaft, means mounted on the shaft for movementrelative. thereto for moving said sleeve to disengage the clutchelements, and a spring operable on theshaft be.- tween said abutmentmeans and said clutch. sleeve for urging the latter into position'toengage. said clutch elements. 7

9. An-operating unit for the tiltingmeans, of a Venetian blind,comprising a rotarylshaft, .a pulley fixed to said shaft, a clutchsleevemounted on said shaft for'axial movement relative thereto, meansforming a drive connection between said clutch sleeve and. said shaft,.adriving member mounted between theends of said, shaft adapted fordriving contact with said tilting means, cooperating clutch elements onthe. clutch sleeve and'driving member adapted to be disengaged uponmovement of said sleeve axially of said shaft, means mounted on the,shaft .for movement relative thereto for moving said sleeve todisengage the clutch elements, and a spring operable for urging thesleeve into position .to engagesaid clutch elements. 10. An operatingunit forthe tilting means of a Venetianblind, comprising a rotary shafthaving abutment means thereon, a pulley fixed'to said shaft, a clutchsleeve mounted on said shaft for axial movement relative theretobetween'the .pulley and the abutment means, means forming a driveconnection between said clutch sleeve and said shaft, a driving membermounted between said abutment means and said pulley adapted for drivingcontact with said tilting means, cooperating clutch elements on theclutch sleeve (and driving member adapted to be 'disengaged uponmovement of said sleeve relative to said driving member and said shaft,cam means mounted between said pulley and .said sleeve; operable formoving the sleeve to disengage. said clutch element, and spring meansforurging said sleeve into position to engage said clutch ele-'- ments.

' JAMES C. BENNETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following" references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,224,712 Balthasar Dec. 10,19402,369,079 Schaefer Feb. 6, 194,5

